Machine for treating furs



March 30, 1943. 5 DEUTSCHER 2,314,971

. MACHINE FOR :TREATING FURS Filed Nov. v5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fiei IINVENTOR 'SA MUEL DEUTJCHER ATTORNEY March 30, 1943.- SLD'EUTSCHER v2,314,971

MACHINE FOR' TREATING FUHS Filed Nov. 5, 1940 Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

15 A M l/EL .DEU T6 CHER BY I 9 AM Mo Iwu/ ATTORNEY March 30, 1943.

I s. D EUTSCHE R MACHINE FOR- TREATING FURS Filed Nov. 5,1940.

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I I I I I I l INVENTOR. SAMUEL DEUTscHER 1 BY y k. P. Mun f ATTORNEYPatented Mar. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR TREATINGFURS Samuel Deutscher, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 5, 1940, Serial No. 364,374

10 Claims.

My invention relates to fur treating machines and has particularreference to machines for preliminary treatment of furs prior to sewingthem into garments.

One of the first steps in fur treatment consists in wetting the leatherside of the furs, this operation being usually performed by hand, usingwet sponges. The manual process is very slow, however, having alsoanother disadvantage in that water from the sponges gets on the hairside of the furs, rendering further operations with the fur moredifficult, especially for matching skins.

My invention has for its object to provide a machine in which pieces offur or pelts can be.

automatically wetted on the leather side; then, after turning the peltsover, they can be automatically combed and brushed. My machine can bealso provided with a separate attachment for rubbing and stretching thepelts after they have been wetted.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specificationand drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of my machine showing a piece offur placed in position to have its leather side wetted;

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view showing a piece of fur placed inposition for combing its hair, the wetting brush being covered by ashield;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly in section;

Fig. 4 is an end View partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of combs;

Fig. 6 is an end View of a fur rubbing attachment;

Fig. 7 is a fractional top plan view of the same; and

Figs. 8, 9, and are detail views of the modified ports and sleeves.

My fur treating machine consists of a base I preferably of a rectangularshape with four posts 2 at the corners. The posts support bars 3 (Figs.3 and 4) at the front and at the rear to which are fastened as bywelding the ends of relatively thin bars 4 extending from the front tothe rear and having sharp teeth 5 at the top. Thin wires 6 are alsostretched between the bars 4 suitably attached to the bars 3 at thelevel of the teeth 5, the bars and wires forming a grid for supporting apiece of fur or pelt I. If desired, additional thin wires may beprovided extending transverseiy of the longitudinal wires 6. The fur ispressed against the wires and bars by a heavy plate 8 siidably fitted onthe posts 2 and suspended on cables or wires 9 passing over pulleys Ill.The other ends of the wires are wound on pulleys H rotatively' mountedon a shaft l2, rotated by a motor !3. Magnetic clutches M are providedfor connecting the pulleys H with the shaft. Handles l4 are 'alsoprovided for manual operation of the cables. provided at the other endof the machine.

The leather side of the fur is wetted by a rotary brush it consisting ofsections I5, l5, etc., mounted on a common shaft IS. The sections areseparated by distances corresponding to the thickness of the bars 4. Theshaft I6 is journaled in the end walls of a tank I! open at the top andadapted to hold water H or other liquid used for wetting thefur. Thebrush is rotated by a motor is mounted on the extension of the bottom ofthe tank, the rotation being transmitted by a belt or chain 20 andpulleys 2i and 22. The motor is also connected bya belt or chain 23 witha pulley 24 on one of the wheels 25 of the tank. The wheels are placedon guiding rails 25 extending longitudinally of the machine.

The effective area covered by the supporting bars 4 and wires 6 issufficiently large for a number of pelts treated simultaneously. Sincesome of the pelts may require less wetting than the others, a regulatingdevice is provided in the form of Wiper bars 21, which may be of metal,rubber or other suitable material.

They are mounted on legs 28 pivoted on a shaft 29 and have handles 30extending outside the tank. The wiper bars are retained in differentpositions by friction blocks 3! made of rubber or similar elasticmaterial, engaging grooves .32 in the handles 30. By pushing'the handlesinward, the wiper bars come'in contact with the bristles of the brushes,wiping off the excess of water. The wipingeifect can be regulated by thedegree of advance of the wiper bars against the brushes. Additionalwipers33 become effective when the handles 30 are moved sufficiently farinward.

The tank with the brushes is brought to the rear end of the machinebefore the fur is placed on the supporting grid. The motor l3 andmagnetic clutches l4 are then energized, causing the plate 8 to descendand to press the fur against the grid. At the same time lugs 34 engagepush buttons 35, closing circuit for the motor 19. The latter rotatesthe brushes and propels the tank to the front end of the machine, thebrushes rubbing and wetting the leather side of the fur. At the end ofthe tank movement, the circuit for the motor brush and the tank to stop.At the same time the motor !3 is started'in the opposite direc-.

tion with the clutches l4 engaged, causing the plate 8 to be raised. Thefurs can be then removed from the grid. fl

For combining the hair, the fur is placed on the grid with the hair sidedown. The brushes are then covered by plates 35 mounted on legs 3! Anidentical arrangement is If! is interrupted, causing the bar 40. Theplates are shown in the opened position in Fig. 1 and in the closedposition in Fig. 2. The plates have slots 4I for straight brushes 42slidably supported on the wall 43 of the tank, so that they can be movedupward for brushing the hair side of the fur when the rotary brush iscovered with the plates 36.

Handles 44 are provided on the brushes 42 for moving them into anoperative position. They are also guided by pins 45 sliding in slots 46in the shanks of the brushes.

At the front Wall 41 of the tank there are provided combs 48 and 49 withtheir shanks 50 and slidably supported between rails 52 at the ends ofthe tank. The comb 49 has handles 53 passing through slots 54 in theouter wall 55, and the comb 48 has a handle 55 passing through a slot 56in the outer wall and also through a corresponding slot in the outercomb 49. The combs are protected in their lowered position by a shield50 hinged at 5|, so that it can be lowered and placed out of the way ofthe combs when the latter are raised, as shown in Fig. 2.

Due to the fact that pieces of fur cannot cover the entire surface ofthe pressure plate 8, the latter may be wetted in spots by the rotarybrush during the wetting operation, and this moisture may be latertransmitted to the hair of the next batch of furs. Meansis thereforeprovided for drying the under side of the plate 8 when it is raised.This may be accomplished by blowing hot air over the surface of theplate through pipes 51 from a blower 58, the air passing through anelectric heater 59, after the plate 8 has been raised above the level ofthe blower ducts.

A wiper roll 60 may be also provided as shown in Fig. 2, the ends of theroll being guided between rails 6I at the sides of the machine. The rollis pulled from one end of the machine to the other by cables or cords 62passing over sheaves 63 and wound on pulleys 64 on the shaft I6 andprovided with magnetic clutches after the plate 8 has been raised abovethe rails 6|. The operation of the wiper roll as well as the blower maybe made automatic, corresponding contacts being closed when the plate 8is raised, the contacts being open again when the wiper completes onecycle of movement back and forth. It is understood that both devices,blower and wiper, can be used at the same time.

It should be noted that while the wires 6 and bars 4 can be spaced atshort distances apart, so that they will support short pieces andcorners of thefur, additional supporting wires 68 may be providedmounted transversely of the wires 6 on the ends of yokes formed ofvertical rods 61 joined at the top with bars 68. The rods slide withcertain friction in corresponding holes in a rectangular frame 09mounted on the posts 2 and supported by bushings I9. The yokes formed bythe rods and bars 68 can be therefore raised or lowered individually andwill remain in any such position. The yokes are raised by a frame IIsliding over the posts 2 and suspended on cords or cables I3 passingover pulleys I2 and wound on pulleys I4 on the shaft I6, the connectionbetween the latter'and the pulleys 14 being effected by magneticclutches. The yokes are lowered by the pressure from an upper frame I6sliding on the posts 2 and suspended on cords or cables 1! passing overpulleys I8 and wound on pulleys I9 on the shaft I6, the pulleys I9having magnetic bars 4 if there is a slight difference in length betweenthe rods 61.

The wires 66 are used for supporting a piece of fur during the processof wetting its leather side, as shown in Fig. 1. The wires 66 and yokesmay be omitted, however, if the stationary wires 6 are closely spacedand even reinforced by cross wires (not shown).

My machine can also be used for rubbing and stretching the fur, so as toremove folds and wrinkles. Levers 82 (Fig. 1) are provided for thispurpose pivoted at 83 to the posts 31 and having a rounded bar 84extending between the adjacent bars 4. The bar 84 is pressed against theleather side of the fur, while the other leg of the lever slides overcorrugations 85 on the base I.

The bar rubs 0r irons the fur with jerking movements, similar to themovement when the fur is rubbed by hand. Sheet metal protectors 86 areclamped on the teeth 5 between the bars 84, so as to allow stretching ofthe fur on the bars 4. A spring 81 keeps the lever pressed against thecorrugations 85.

The rubbing of the fur 'I can be also made on an attachment to mymachine shown in Figs. 6 and '7. The base I may be an extension of thebase I and the motor I3 may be the same motor I3, which operates theother part of the machine. A vertical board 88 is provided forsupporting a piece of fur 'I, which is clamped at the top with a heavybar 89 having a rubber strip 90 and suitably guidedat the ends. The furis rubbed by hollow bars 9! supported on levers 92 pivoted at 93 onbrackets 94 extending from sleeve 95 sliding on four posts 96. The outerlu s 91 of the levers slide over corrugations 98 on the posts. Pressureof springs 99 urging the brackets 94 and the bars is regulated byadjusting screws I00. The sleeves 95 are joined by bars IOI and areattached to cords or chains I02 passing over pulleys I03 and I94 onshafts I05 journaled in brackets I06 and I01 on the posts 96. The shaftsare rotated by the motor I3 through gears I08 and I09, the shafts I05being connected by a cord I02 on pulleys H0.

The motor may be provided with separate speed control for raising andlowering the sleeves. Hot

air is admitted into the bars 9| through flexible tubes I I I from theblower 59, Fig. 1, the air emerging through small holes IIZ. Additionalcloth rolls II3 may be provided for wiping the board 88 when the fur isremoved, the rolls having fabric flaps attached to the sides of the bars9|.

The operation of the motor is preferably so arranged that the bars 9|move downward when the fur is clamped by the bar 89 and closecorresponding contacts, the motor being automatically stopped by anotherset of contacts when the bars complete their downward travel.

The motor is reversed by a hand switch for moving the bars upward, a hotair blast being at the same time started for drying the board 88.

Several parallel boards 88 may be provided for simultaneous treatment ofa number of pelts.

The sleeves 95 may be provided with levers 92 at both sides, thebrackets I06 and I01 being then mounted on the end sides of the posts96.

The device can be also used for ironing seams in a piece of fur preparedfor making a coat. To make the seams smooth, they must be rubbed with asteady motion of the ironing bars 9|. A modified arrangement for thispurpose is shown in Fig. 8.. The posts 3' are smooth and have bars II4placed at their sides and attached by screws H5, passirg through holesin sleeves 95'. The bars H4 have teeth 98, the lugs 91 bein suflicientlywide partly to cover both the posts and bars I I4. Holes I I6 for thescrews are made wide in horizontal direction, so that the bars H4 can beclamped either in the operative position with the teeth extending abovethe post H3 as shown in Fig. 8, or they can be withdrawn, in which casethe lugs 91 will slide over the smooth surface of the posts H3.

My machine can be used simultaneously for different operations indifferent sections, as, for instance, one section can be used forwetting furs, another for combing and wetting at the same time, thethird for combing only, the fourth for moderate wetting, using wiperbars 21.

It is understood that my fur treating machine may be further modifiedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fur wetting and combing machine comprising a base, means to supporta piece of fur at an elevation above the base, an open tank movablysupported on the base, a brush rotatively supported in the tank andadapted to press against the fur, the tank being adapted to contain aliquid for moistening the brush, means on the tank to rotate the brush,means to move the tank with the brush under the fur support ing means,means on the base to guide the tank, and a plurality of wipersadjustably supported at the brush for wiping the brush.

2. A fur wetting and combing machine comprising a base, means to supporta piece of fur at an elevation above the base, an open tank movablysupported on the base, a brush rotatively supported in the tank andadapted to press against the fur, the tank being adapted to contain aliquid for moistening the brush, means on the tank to rotate the brush,means to move the tank with the brush under the fur supporting means,means on the base to guide the tank, a plurality of combs movablysupported at the sides of the tank adapted to be raised for engaging thefur, and means to render the brush inoperative when the combs areraised.

3. A fur wetting and combing machine comprising a, base, means tosupport a piece of fur at an elevation above the base, an open tankmovably supported on the base, a brush rotatively supported in the tankand adapted to press against the fur, the tank being adapted to containa liquid for moistening the brush, means on the tank to rotate thebrush, means to move the tank with the brush under the fur supportingmeans, means on the base to guide the tank, a plurality of combs movablysupported at the sides of the tank adapted to be raised for engaging thefur, and a cover plate slidably supported on the tank adapted to bemoved over the brush when the combs are raised.

4. A fur wetting and combing machine comprising a base, means to supporta piece of fur at an elevation above the base, an open tank movablysupported on the base, a brush rotatively supported in the tank andadapted to press against the fur, the tank being adapted to contain aliquid for moistening the brush, means on the tank to rotate the brush,means to move the tank with the brush under the fur supporting means,means on the base to guide the tank, a plurality of combs movablysupported at the sides of the tank adapted to be raised for engaging thefur, means to render the brush inoperative when the combs are raised,and a hinged cover on the tank for covering the combs in their loweredposition.

5. A fur treating machine comprising a base, a plurality of elongatedmembers supported at an elevation above the base adapted to support apiece of fur, a plate movably supported above the elongated membersadapted to be placed on the fur for pressing it against the elongatedmembers, a tank movably supported on the base under the elongatedmembers, fur treating members movably and adjustably supported at thetank, and means to move the tank in a direction parallel to theelongated members.

6. A fur treating machine comprising a base, a plurality of elongatedmembers supported at an elevation above the base adapted to support apiece of fur, a plate movably supported above the elongated membersadapted to be placed on the fur for pressing it against the elongatedmembers, a tank movably supported on the base under the elongatedmembers, fur treating members movably and adjustably supported at thetank, means to move the tank in a direction parallel to the elongatedmembers, and means to control the movements of the tank by the movementof the plate.

7. A fur treating machine comprising a base, a plurality of elongatedmembers supported at an elevation above the base adapted to support apiece of fur, a plate movably supported above the elongated membersadapted to be placed on the fur for pressing it against the elongatedmembers, a plurality of yokes movably supported above the plate, wiresstretched between the lower ends of the okes adapted to rest on theelongated memhere under the fur when the yokes are lowered, and furtreating members movably supported under the base under the elongatedmembers.

8. A fur treating machine comprising a base, a plurality of barssupported at an elevation above the base, the upper edges of the barshaving sharp teeth, a plurality of yokes movably supported above thebars in planes perpendicular to the plane of the bars, wires stretchedbetween the lower ends of the yokes adapted to be placed in spacesbetween the teeth on the bars, the wires and the bars being adapted tosupport a piece of fur, means on the base under the bars to treat thefur, and a plate movably supported above the bars adapted to press thefur against the bars.

9. A fur treating machine comprising a base, a plurality of barssupported at an elevation above the base, the upper edges of the barshaving sharp teeth, posts on the base, yokes movably supported on theposts above the bars, wires stretched between the lower ends of theyokes adapted to be placed on the bars between the teeth for supportinga piece of fur, a plate movably supported on the posts adapted to belowered for pressing the fur against the wires and bars, and means tomove the yokes for raising and lowering the wires,

10. A fur treating machine comprising a base, means to support a pieceof fur at an elevation above the base, means to clamp the fur againstthe supporting means, members adapted to engage the fur for itstreatment, means to movably support the members on the base, an electricmotor on the base, means to move the member supporting means by themotor, and cam mem-- bers on the base to cause the members to vibrate intheir movement and to press the fur treating members against the fur.

SAMUEL DEUTSCHER.

